For over 100 years, bacteria have been studied in simplified laboratory settings. While reductionist experimental systems provided great mechanistic insight, they lack key aspects of natural systems such as fluid flow. Thus, we now have an opportunity to solve outstanding problems in microbiology by implementing experimental systems that more precisely model natural conditions. My research group combines traditional molecular biology approaches with microfluidic technology to examine how host-relevant shear flow influences the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, we explore how flow impacts how bacteria respond to stress and stick to surfaces.